Based on the muttered responses and dismal body language of Strikeforce light heavyweights Gegard Mousasi (30-3-2 MMA, 2-1-1 SF) and Keith Jardine (17-9-2 MMA, 0-0-1 SF), it must be one ugly sister.

After a controversial draw on the main card of Saturday night’s “Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley event,” both fighters appeared dejected at the evening’s post-event press conference. However, both may have a chance to set the record straight at some point, as Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said a rematch may be in the cards in the near future.

“That’s something we’ll definitely go back and talk to the camps and talk to Lorenzo and the group, and we’ll see what makes sense,” Coker told the media.

Jardine stepped in on just eight-days’ notice when Mousasi’s original opponent, Mike Kyle, broke his hand and was forced to withdraw. The always-durable “Dean of Mean” appeared outclassed on the feet throughout the contest, but he did mix in several successful takedown attempt in an effort to keep the bout competitive.

A key moment in the matchup came early on when Mousasi landed an illegal upkick in the opening frame and had one point deducted. It would come back to haunt him in the end, as two judges scored the fight 28-28, resulting in a majority draw.

A near-silent Mousasi, who preferred the phrase, “I don’t know,” when asked to explain many aspects of the evening’s matchup, said he didn’t intend to fire off an illegal shot, but he isn’t protesting the referee Mike Beltran’s decision.

“I didn’t do it deliberately,” Mousasi said. “In Japan it’s allowed. It wasn’t allowed tonight, so the ruling was correct, but I didn’t do it deliberately. I apologize for that.”

For Jardine, who entered the matchup just 4-7 in his past 11 bouts, the fight was called a “no lose” outing by many MMA pundits. Battered and bruised from the striking-heavy affair, Jardine disagreed entirely.

“There’s no such thing as a moral victory,” Jardine said. “Coming into this fight, there were a lot of people saying, ‘This is a good position for you. You’ve got nothing to lose.’ But anybody that says you’ve got nothing to lose in a fight has really never fought before. It sucks.”

If there’s a bright side for Jardine, it’s that he once again gained fan admiration for a gutsy performance without the benefit of a training camp. If there’s a bright spot for Mousasi, the 25-year-old was struggling to find it.

Despite the disappointment, both may get a chance to prove exactly who is the better man. It’s all just a matter of when.

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